FOREWORD 
Q UALI I Y GARDENS again takes great pride in pre¬ 
senting its 1937 list of irises—the cream of this race, 
the most modern collection obtainable, as well as the 
selection of the older varieties that have held on by their 
sheer beauty and excellence. 
The greatest progress has been made in improving and 
developing the race of bearded irises in the last twenty years 
that had been made in any Plant genus—we believe the most 
rapid ever made in any garden plant. Plant breeding has 
been placed on a thoroughly scientific basis with reasonably 
predictable results and with the breeder having a definite 
goal. 
The result is there has been a flood of new varieties of 
irises, the development of new color ranges among the blends 
and the vast improvement of the seifs and bicolors, both in 
purity of tone, size, height and best of all in the iris, always 
fragile, substance. 
Because of the rapidity of producing new seedlings and 
the establishment of higher standards speed has proved its 
own corrective and the selection of worthwhile new irises 
becomes easier because all breeders now know that an iris 
must have real outstanding quality to compete with those 
already in commerce. 
The great hosts of new varieties that have been introduced 
in the last few years have proved puzzling, and perhaps 
discouraging to gardeners seeking plants to improve their 
garden. We have endeavored by making our lists selective 
of the best there is in the iris world, avoiding listing those 
which are practically identical, to print a catalogue of real 
value to a gardener. Every iris we list is first class and well 
worth growing. 
It sometimes happens that we can’t see the woods for the 
trees. It has occurred to us after visiting many gardens all 
over the country, that we have been so interested in the 
production of new irises and the discussion of their relative 
merits and points, that we have neglected to get the better 
irises into the gardens. It is possible, as has been suggested 
to us, that we have scared the rank and file away from the 
iris to some extent because we have made them too much of 
a connoisseur's flower. When you start a cult for a flower, 
new varieties and their inspection take away from the main 
idea, garden value, of the ones we already have. 
The proved and tested irises should be used lavishly in 
the gardens of the country because they produce the effect 
of beauty and lavish bloom at a season that is peculiarly 
their own and when there is nothing to compete with them 
in stately and entrancing beauty. 
There has been much improvement in the variegatas— 
those with yellow standards and contrasting falls. The older 
King Juba, Vision and the new Deseret, are among the top- 
notchers, the first two of tried value through several years. 
Deseret is a stunning plant, tall and large flowered with 
clear rich yellow standards and dark velvety falls. 
The yellows have been stabilized on as high a plane as 
had previously been attained in other classes, the yellows 
being the last to yield to the hybridizer's art. We now have 
them as big as the biggest and with stems as tall as the 
tallest. 
Crysoro and Golden Bow, intermediates of superlative 
beauty of form and coloring; Desert Gold, early and medium 
tall; Alta California, a tall deep yellow; Chromylla, exquisite 
in coloring and lovely and smooth of finish, and the trimly 
chiseled Phebus, another soft yellow of fine quality, are 
among the standbys. 
Happy Days is a giant for size and of good color and 
California Gold is one of the richest and deepest yellows. 
Eilah, a large flaring flower of beautiful form and coloring, 
is indeed a beauty. The very new Jasmania is, all things 
considered, perhaps the most satisfactory yellow we have 
grown. Tall, widely branched, it carries a candelabra of 
large, perfectly formed golden yellow flowers and it is very 
hardy and a fast grower. Golden Hind is of gorgeous coloring, 
of medium height and size. Alice Harding, a peculiarly soft 
and beautiful yellow well worth a place. Lady Paramount, 
a lighter yellow, is of good coloring and a consistent bloomer. 
Naranja, a deep yellow with an orange tone, is stunning; 
one of the most beautiful introductions in recent years. 
7 
Quality Gardens 
